Light operated valve position indicating system

ABSTRACT

A valve position indicator particularly suited for use with valves having a first shaft driven by an operator and a second stub shaft for journaling the valve member. Either one of the shafts is provided with a transverse light transmitting portion, normally in the form of an aperture therethrough and that portion of the shaft is flanked by a pair of aligned light pipes. One of the light pipes may be associated with a light source while the other is provided with an indicating end with the result that when the valve is in one position, light may pass from the source to the indicator through the aperture in the shaft, while for al other positions of the valve, the light transmitting path will be broken. Observance of the indicating end of the light pipe provides a remote indication of the position of the valve.

g [22] Filed:

.xe. 3.7mm

United Sti Fawkes BS K F's-ii:

154] LIGHT OPERATED VALVE POSITION INDICATING SYSTEM [75] Inventor:Donald G. Fawkes, Aurora, 111

[73] Assignec: Henry Pratt Company Sept. 26, 1971 [21] Appl. No.:181,907

[52] US. Cl. ..137/552, 137/554, 137/559 [51] Int. Cl .=...F16k 37/00[58] Field of Search....137/55l, 552, 552.5, 559, 554

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,529,605 11/1950 Gustafson..l37/55l X 3,331,392 7/1967 Davidson et al.... ..l37/559 1,408,6113/1922 Larner ..137/554 1 Feb. 20, 1973 Primary Examiner-Hcnry T.Klinksiek Att0rneyHofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & Mc- Cord [57]ABSTRACT A valve position indicator particularly suited for use withvalves having a first shaft driven by an operator and a second stubshaft for journaling the valve member. Either one of the shafts isprovided with a transverse light transmitting portion, normally in theform of an aperture therethrough and that portion of the shaft isflanked by a pair of aligned light pjpes. One of the light pipes may beassociated with a light source while the other is provided with anindicating end with the result that when the valve is in one position,light may pass from the source to the indicator through the aperture inthe shaft, while for al other positions of the valve, the lighttransmitting path will be broken. Observance of the indicating end ofthe light pipe provides a remote indication of the position of thevalve.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures LIGHT OPERATED VALVE POSITION INDICATINGSYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to valveposition indicators for valves of various sizes utilized in waterdistribution for fire protection systems or the like such as butterflyvalves, ball valves, plug valves, cone valves or any other type of valvehaving a shaft which rotates through about 90 when the valve is movedfrom its fully open position to its fully closed position or vice versa.

For many years, there has existed a problem in conjunction with the useof such valves insofar as it has been difficult to ascertain theparticular position of a valve member within a valve casing withoutactually inspecting the valve itself. Furthermore, even inspection ofthe actual valve can be deceptive. For example, where a valve has amanual or motorized operator for driving the valve control shaft, shouldthe valve drive shaft shear, a not unheard of occurrence, one inspectingthe position of the operator as an indication of actual valve positionwould be misled as there would no longer be a driving connection betweenthe operator and a valve member.

As a result, various sytems for indicating the position of a valvewithin a valve casing have evolved and generally involve electricallysensitive systems. For example, one system monitors inductance betweentwo electrical conductors, one movable with the valve member. Anotherelectrically monitors magnetic coupling caused by a magneticallyconducting element movable with the valve member. Such systems operateextremely well for their intended purpose but are susceptible topossible disadvantages by reason of their reliance upon electricity. Forexample, in many water distribution or fire protection systems, thevalves are buried and, as a result, steps must be taken to protect thesystem from seepage of ground water. While in most instances thedisabling of an electrical system by ground water seepage can beadequately protected against, there remains a possibility that suchseepage could cause a short in the electrical system thereby disablingthe indicator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the principal object of the invention toprovide a new and improved valve position indicating system. Moreparticularly, it is an object of the invention to provide such a systemthat is not susceptible to ma]- function or disabling by deteriorationdue to conditions in the environment in which the system is used.

The exemplary embodiment of the invention achieves the foregoing objectby means of a construction employing light as the sensing and indicatingmedium. More particularly, valves of the foregoing types include a valvecasing journaling one or more shafts affixed to a valve member withinthe casing and movable between open and closed positions. The valvemember, and in the exemplary embodiment, the shaft journaling the same,is provided with a light transmitting portion normally in the form of anaperture. A pair of light pipes each have ends adjacent the shaftportion having the aperture so that for one position of the shaft, theends of the light pipes may see each other through the aperture, whilefor other positions of the valve and the shaft, the shaft blocks thelight path from one light pipe to the other.

One of the light pipes has its other end associated with a source oflight while the other light pipe has its other end serving as anindicating means. When the valve is in the position with the aperturealigned with the light pipes, light from the source will pass throughthe first light pipe, the aperture, and the second light pipe to theindicating end of the latter to provide an indication that the valve isin a particular position. When the valve is in other positions, the pathof light transmittance will be broken so that the indicating end of thesecond light pipe, by reason of the fact that the same will benon-illuminated, provides an indication that the valve is not in thepredetermined position.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the system is designed for usewith a plurality of such valves and employs a single light sourceassociated with a plurality of the first light pipes and the indicatingends of the second light pipes may be grouped together in a single,remotely located control panel whereat the positions of a plurality ofvalves may be monitored.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a valve madeaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, vertical section of a portion of the indicatingsystem associated with the valve; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic of a multiple valve, indicating system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT One form of a valve with whichthe system may be employed is illustrated in FIG. 1 and is seen toinclude a valve body or casing, generally designated 12 through which afluid, generally a liquid, may pass when the same is connected in afluid line in a conventional fashion. The casing 12 includesdiametrically opposed trunnion bosses 14 and 16 each providing bearingsurfaces for respective trunnions 18 and 20 secured to a valve member22. As just described, a conventional butterfly valve is defined.

The upper trunnion boss 16 may also mount a housing 24 for a valveoperator of any desired constriction. For example, the housing 24 mayinclude a motor for driving the valve 22 between the open position shownin FIG. 1 and a closed position or, if desired, a manual operatingmechanism may be included with the housing 24.

Finally, it will be noted, that one or the other of the trunnions l8 and20, or both, extends beyond its associated trunnion boss and theextension of the same includes a transversely extending aperture 26which defines a light transmitting portion on the valve member.

Turning now to FIG. 2, a portion of the trunnion 20 including theaperture 26 is illustrated as being located within a recess 28 of ahousing 30. The housing includes outwardly projecting eyelets 32 throughwhich bolts (not shown) may be used to secure the same either to theoperator housing 24 or the trunnion boss 14.

The housing 30 includes aligned bores 34 and 36 which are adapted toconfront the trunnion 20 at the point in the same whereat the aperture26 is located. The bores 34 and 36 receive the ends of associatedconventional light pipes 38 and 40 respectively to mount the same inalignment with each other and with the aperture 26 when the trunnion isrotated 90 from the position shown in FIG. 2.

The foregoing structure may be implemented in a remote positionindicating system as that schematically illustrated in FIG. 3. Inparticular, there may be provided a monitoring panel 42 housing a lightsource such as an electrical, incandescent lamp 44. Clustered about thelamp 44 are the ends of the light pipes remote from the valve so thatthe sanf'ieceivelight from the source for transmission to the housing30. The ends of the second light pipes 40 remote from the apertures 26may be returned to the panel 42 to terminate in indicating ends 46.Thus, with the trunnions 20 of the valve in the position illustrated inFIG. 3, light from the lamp 42 will be transmitted by the first lightpipes 38 through the apertures 26 to the second light pipes 40 where itcan be observed at the indicating ends 46 thereof. As illustrated inFIG. 3, a single source of light 44 may be employed with a plurality ofvalves so that the condition of each of the valves may be individuallydetermined at a remote monitoring station housing the panel 42.

Normally, it will be preferable to arrange the aperture 26 on thetrunnion 20 (or the trunnion 18) such that light will be transmitted tothe indicating ends 46 whenever the valve is in a fully opened positionas illustrated in FIG. 1. However, in some instances it may be desirableto provide the positive indication when the valve is fully closed. Ofcourse, by the provision of a second aperture in the valve along withaccompanying first and second light pipes, the system could be arrangedto provide positive indications when the valve is both in the fully openposition and the fully closed position.

It should also be recognized that the system is not limited to use withthe upper trunnion 20. In fact, in many instances, it may be preferableto use the lower trunnion 18 since the same is not driven and there isless likelihood of the same shearing from the valve 22 than is the casewith the upper trunnion 20. And while the system is depicted asincluding the housing 30, which may be secured to the lower trunnionboss 14 or the valve operator housing 24, it will be understood that thehousing may be omitted entirely if desired if appropriate means areprovided in the trunnion bosses or the operating housing 24 for mountingthe light pipes in the manner described above.

It will further be appreciated that the abovedescribed system isextremely reliable in that it will be unaffected by ground waterseepage. The conventional materials customarily employed to form thelight pipes 38 and 40 are unaffected by such moisture and even shouldseepage occur such that ground water filled the cavity 28 of the housing30, the light path would not be appreciablyobstructed assuming of coursethat the aperture 26 was in alignment with the ends of the light pipes38 and 40.

Iclaim:

1. A valve position indicating system comprising: a valve casing; valvemeans within said casing and movable between an open (position whereatfluid may flow through the casing an a closed position blocking fluidflow through the casing; means defining a light transmitting portion onsaid valve means; a source of light remote from said casing; a firstlight pipe extending from said source to said casing and aligned withsaid light transmitting means when said valve means is in a particularposition within said casing; and a second light pipe aligned with saidfirst light pipe and on the opposite side of said valve means, saidsecond light pipe terminating in indicating means; whereby whensaidvalve means is in said particular position with said transmitting meansaligned with said light pipes, said indicating means will be illuminatedby light from said v source traveling through said first light pipe,said light transmitting portion and said second light pipe and when saidvalve means is in another position nonaligned with said first lightpipe, light from said source will be blocked by said valve means andwill not reach said indicating means so that said indicating meansprovides an indication of the position of said valve means within saidcasing.

2. The system of claim ll wherein said valve casing includes a pair ofoppositely disposed bearing surfaces and said valve means comprises avalve member having trunnions in respective ones of said bearingsurfaces; said light transmitting means comprising an aperture in one ofsaid trunnions.

3. The valve position indicating system of claim 2 further including aplurality of valves defined by a plurality of valve casings and aplurality of said valve means; said system further including a pluralityof said first light pipes, one for each valve, and a plurality of saidsecond light pipes, one for each valve; said light source being commonto said plurality of first light pipes; the indicating means of saidsecond light pipes terminating in a common display panel whereby thepositions of a plurality of remotely located valves may be ascertainedat a single location.

4. A valve including a valve position indicating system comprising:means defining a valve casing having opposed bearing surfaces; a valvewithin said casing and having trunnions received within respective onesof said bearing surfaces, one ofsaid trunnions including an apertureextending therethrough to define a light transmitting passage; a firstlight pipe having an end adjacent said one trunnion and adapted to bealigned with said aperture therein for one position of said valve withinsaid casing; and a second light pipe having an end adjacent said onetrunnion and adapted to be aligned with said aperture therein when saidvalve is in said one position within said casing whereby for said oneposition of said valve within said casing, light from a source may passfrom said first light pipe through said aperture and to said secondlight pipe to provide an indication that said valve is in said oneposition and whereby when said valve is in another position within saidcasing, said aperture will be non-aligned with said light pipes topreclude the passage of light from said first light pipe to said secondlight pipe.

1. A valve position indicating system comprising: a valve casing; valvemeans within said casing and movable between an open position whereatfluid may flow through the casing and a closed position blocking fluidflow through the casing; means defining a light transmitting portion onsaid valve means; a source of light remote from said casing; a firstlight pipe extending from said source to said casing and aligned withsaid light transmitting means when said valve means is in a particularposition within said casing; and a second light pipe aligned with saidfirst light pipe and on the opposite side of said valve means, saidsecond light pipe terminating in indicating means; whereby when saidvalve means is in said particular position with said transmitting meansaligned with said light pipes, said indicating means will be illuminatedby light from said source traveling through said first light pipe, saidlight transmitting portion and said second light pipe and when saidvalve means is in another position non-aligned with said first lightpipe, light from said source will be blocked by said valve means andwill not reach said indicating means so that said indicating meansprovides an indication of the position of said valve means within saidcasing.
 1. A valve position indicating system comprising: a valvecasing; valve means within said casing and movable between an openposition whereat fluid may flow through the casing and a closed positionblocking fluid flow through the casing; means defining a lighttransmitting portion on said valve means; a source of light remote fromsaid casing; a first light pipe extending from said source to saidcasing and aligned with said light transmitting means when said valvemeans is in a particular position within said casing; and a second lightpipe aligned with said first light pipe and on the opposite side of saidvalve means, said second light pipe terminating in indicating means;whereby when said valve means is in said particular position with saidtransmitting means aligned with said light pipes, said indicating meanswill be illuminated by light from said source traveling through saidfirst light pipe, said light transmitting portion and said second lightpipe and when said valve means is in another position non-aligned withsaid first light pipe, light from said source will be blocked by saidvalve means and will not reach said indicating means so that saidindicating means provides an indication of the position of said valvemeans within said casing.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein said valvecasing includes a pair of oppositely disposed bearing surfaces and saidvalve means comprises a valve member having trunnions in respective onesof said bearing surfaces; said light transmitting means comprising anaperture in one of said trunnions.
 3. The valve position indicatingsystem of claim 2 further including a plurality of valves defined by aplurality of valve casings and a plurality of said valve means; saidsystem further including a plurality of said first light pipes, one foreach valve, and a plurality of said second light pipes, one for eachvalve; said light source being common to said plurality of first lightpipes; the indicating means of said second light pipes terminating in acommon display panel whereby the positions of a plurality of remotelylocated valves may be ascertained at a single location.